So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may not be working properly (or just crash) on newer operating systems. Also, y'all may have noticed your Mac's performance went down right subsequently the last update. Finally, if you want to run a parallel copy of Mac OS 10 on a virtual machine, you lot too volition demand a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what problems you may face up down the route.

A listing of all Mac Bone X versions

Nosotros'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple OS versions below, so it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Cheetah 10.0 Puma x.1 Jaguar 10.ii
Panther 10.three Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.5
Snow Leopard 10.vi King of beasts 10.seven Mount King of beasts 10.8
Mavericks 10.nine Yosemite 10.10 El Capitan 10.xi
Sierra 10.12 Loftier Sierra ten.13 Mojave x.14
Catalina ten.xv

STEP 1. Set up your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with information, you will probably need plenty free space on your Mac. This includes not just space for the OS itself but also space for other applications and your user information. One more than argument is that the free infinite on your deejay translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart beneath tells you how much free space is needed.

Annotation, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean drive. Next, you will demand plenty disk infinite available, for instance, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Here are some ideas to complimentary up space on your drive:

  • Uninstall large unused apps
  • Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
  • Locate the biggest files on your computer:

Get to Finder > All My Files > Arrange by size

So you can move your infinite hoggers onto an external drive or a deject storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, in that location are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it's almost simple to use of all. It deletes system junk, old cleaved apps, and the rest of subconscious junk on your drive.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor OS 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for OS 10.9 (gratuitous version)

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone x.ten - 10.14 (free version)

STEP 2. Go a re-create of Mac Os X download

Normally, it is assumed that updating Bone is a one-manner road. That'south why going back to a past Apple OS version is problematic. The main challenge is to download the Bone installation file itself, because your Mac may already be running a newer version. If you lot succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the Bone on your computer.

How to download older Mac Bone X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you one time had purchased an old version of Mac OS X from the App Store, open it and go to the Purchased tab. In that location you'll detect all the installers you lot can download. Still, it doesn't always work that way. The purchased section lists only those operating systems that you had downloaded in the past. But hither is the path to cheque information technology:

  1. Click the App Shop icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Scroll down to observe the preferred Os X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows you to download Mavericks and Yosemite past logging with your Apple ID — just if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Shop: Download Mac OS version as Apple Developer

If you are signed with an Apple Programmer account, yous tin can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If y'all badly need a lower OS X version build, consider creating a new Developer business relationship amongst other options. The membership cost is $99/year and provides a bunch of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you visit developer.apple.com/downloads, you can only find 10.iii-10.6 Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac Bone X Snow Leopard 10.seven, the App Store has go the but source of updating Apple tree OS versions.

Purchase an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of by Mac OS Ten straight from Apple. Both volition cost y'all effectually $twenty. For the reason of being rather blowsy, Snow Leopard and earlier Apple versions can only be installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.six
Get an email re-create of King of beasts x.7
Get an email re-create of Mount Lion 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code you lot can use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Panthera leo or Mount Lion, your Mac needs to be running Snow Leopard so you lot tin can install the newer OS on top of it.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if yous tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as it'south possible too. Simply before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to exist updated to Bone X 10.half dozen.8. So, hither are main steps yous should take:

one. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to 10.6.viii using Software Update.
3. Download El Capitan hither.

"I tin't download an sometime version of Mac OS X"

If you have a newer Mac, there is no concrete option to install Mac OS versions older than your current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't look it to run any OS released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions simply exercise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Simply as it often happens, workarounds are possible. In that location is nonetheless a hazard to download the installation file if you have an access to a Mac (or virtual machine) running that operating system. For example, to get an installer for Lion, you may inquire a friend who has Lion-operated Mac or, again, prepare a virtual motorcar running Lion. So you will demand to fix an external drive to download the installation file using OS Ten Utilities.

After you've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, but yous can click Abolish and copy the file you lot demand. Beneath is the detailed educational activity how to do information technology.

STEP 3. Install older Os Ten onto an external bulldoze

The following method allows you to download Mac Bone X Panthera leo, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks.

  1. Get-go your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Prepare a make clean external drive (at least x GB of storage).
  3. Within OS X Utilities, choose Reinstall OS 10.
  4. Select external drive every bit a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the Bone should start downloading automatically onto the external drive. Later on the download is complete, your Mac will prompt you to exercise a restart, simply at this point, yous should completely close it downwardly. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard bulldoze.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Go to external drive > OS X Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file y'all need to reinstall Lion Bone X. The aforementioned steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running later macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS High Sierra x.13, it is possible to revert it to the previous organization if y'all are not satisfied with the experience. You can do it either with Time Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external bulldoze.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Teaching todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Instruction to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before you exercise it, the all-time advice is to back your Mac up so your near of import files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean up your Mac from old system junk files and awarding leftovers. The easiest style to exercise it is to run CleanMyMac X on your car (download it for free hither).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone Ten version

If none of the options to get older Os X worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple tree Shop. They should accept image installations going dorsum to Bone Leopard and before. You can also enquire their assistance to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. And then here yous are. Nosotros hope this commodity has helped y'all to download an old version of Mac Os X. Below are a few more than links you may find interesting.